Month: December 2015

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m writing a blog entry. It won’t be very long but there’s something I have to say.

Some people might think that I should really be busy spending time with family and loved ones. To which I say, no, I shouldn’t. I’m Pagan and I celebrate the Solstice, not Christmas. Since I live in a predominantly Christian country though, I’m used to not getting my holidays off at work. That’s a bit of a shame, but no biggie for me. I have a celebration in the evening and feel festive all day instead.

I’m not saying this because I think Pagans shouldn’t celebrate Christmas. I know many Pagans who celebrate with their families; after all, it’s the time after the Solstice when the day gets visibly longer for the first time, and as well the important thing for them is to spend time with their loved ones. I think that’s great.

For me, Christmas has come to mean something different. For the last 18 or so years, I’ve spent the 25th and 26thof December – and whenever I can get away with it, the 24th as well – on my own. I look forward to these days all year. Why? Because they belong to me, and me alone. They are the only days in the year when I know nobody will bother me.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and my friends and I enjoy spending time with them. But everyone needs some time for themselves as well, and so I choose to spend other days with my loved ones and keep Christmas – which has no religious meaning for me – to myself. I love those days, I use them to plan ahead, be creative, or simply for being lazy. It’s pure bliss.

I wanted to get this out to the world, so people who don’t have anyone to celebrate with, or whose Christmas is ruined by something, don’t feel bad. There is enormous pressure for the holidays to be perfect, and people often feel like they fall short. I always grin at the song “Nobody wants to be alone for Christmas”. Yes, some people do! However, I realise that to people who are having a bad or disappointing experience, this song must be slightly bitter.

Therefore, here are my holiday wishes:

To those of you who celebrate, I wish a wonderful, magical Christmas which is everything you dream of.

To those who were going to have a magical Christmas but whose festive spirit was ruined by something, I send a hug and the assurance that no, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t mean you fail at Christmas, it’s just something that happens sometimes.

To those who, like me, don’t celebrate, I wish some beautiful days spent exactly the way you choose.

Finally, to those Earth Angels who work at Christmas, the nurses, firemen and –women, bus drivers etc, I want to give my heartfelt thanks for being there for all who need you. I hope you’ll get some time with your families too and wish you the merriest of Christmases!

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